To the editor:
“She doesn’t need to know them by name. She doesn’t need to know vulva. All she needs to know is your private parts are what are under your bathing suit. And if a man, or if someone, touches you under your bathing suit, then you yell for help. That’s what they need."
Children aren't born with shame. We give it to them.
This quote seems to me breeding fear. Opening children up to what most concerns them, their bodies, is a good thing and the proper thing. And it is about time.
People don't all have the same parental skills and beliefs and desires, and many of our children are on their own when it comes to their bodies and learning about their sexuality. Sexuality is a part of life; it is who we are.
It is late enough in our history to overcome such ignorance, and accept that our children have questions, important questions, that need to be answered. If they are bored with the subject, like any subject, they will tune it out. We are not going to create or fuel this curiosity, or create sexual deviants.
We are saying, this is your body, this is what happens to your body, there is nothing to feel ashamed about.
Forewarned is forearmed.
Let them know what to expect when puberty rears its ugly, confusing head. It is our shame that we are most afraid of.
Opening up to life in 'all' its aspects.
We fear letting go of control. Information and truth are always good things, and we should begin passing down something really helpful to our children's development instead of causing and breeding confusion, embarassment, ridicule, and all the other aspects of sexuality that confronts our youth when left to their own devices and the devices of other youth, and the internet.
Jim w. Fayle,
Thunder Bay
